Audience members object to how board conducts business

Debra Moore

Staff Writer

2/14/2014

The supervisors and audience members were not alone during the Plumas County Board of Supervisors’ Feb. 4 meeting. A tiny camera mounted at the back of the room filmed the day’s proceedings and beamed it live within the courthouse. Soon residents across the county will be able to view the meeting from their homes or offices — actually, from anywhere they can access Internet.

The Feb. 4 meeting can be viewed by going to the Board of Supervisors’ home page on countyofplumas.com and clicking on meeting minutes. Future meeting videos will also be posted there.

Point of order

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Indian Valley resident Todd Anderson asked Board Chairman Jon Kennedy to define the rules the supervisors use to conduct their meetings.

When Kennedy didn’t immediately respond, Anderson asked, “How can you be the chairman?”

County Counsel Craig Settlemire said that the supervisors are governed by the Brown Act and that they use an abbreviated form of Roberts Rules of Order.

That didn’t satisfy Anderson, who said that the word “abbreviated” made it unclear, and he suggested that the board adopt a resolution that would clarify its meeting rules.

“If it’s deemed necessary to have a resolution we will get one,” Kennedy responded.

Another audience member, Dan Bailey, suggested that the board require all speakers to identify themselves, because when listening to an audiotape of the meetings, it is difficult to determine who is speaking. He suggested that Kennedy require identification.

Kennedy said that the Brown Act doesn’t require an individual to state his or her name.

“I think they should identify themselves,” Bailey said.

“I won’t ask,” Kennedy responded, though he said he would make an initial statement at the beginning of the meeting inviting people to identify themselves if they choose.

Sheriff Greg Hagwood received authorization to recruit and hire a deputy whose job will be to work with the probation department. Funding for the position comes from Assembly Bill 109 and not the county’s general fund.

Hagwood also received approval to fill a vacant dispatch position. Hagwood said the position had been vacant for a year as he waited for a suitable candidate to pass the testing and background process.